Substantially leakless aerator

ABSTRACT

This application covers an aerator for a faucet. The aerator includes four principal parts: a disk or diaphragm having a plurality of apertures at its upstream end for converting incoming water into a plurality of jets of water; a substantially cylindrical body having an upper shoulder to support the diaphragm and having apertures to admit air to be mixed with the water jets produced by the diaphragm; and a pair of spaced screens of different dimensions downstream of the diaphragm for additionally mixing and emitting the air and water combination. The incoming air and the water jets developed by the diaphragm are combined and mixed in the space or chamber above the two screens before being discharged through the discharge outlet of the aerator. The diaphragm embodies a so-called &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;crush ring&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; positioned peripherally at its upstream end. The crush-ring contacts a flat ring near the end of the faucet spout and, because it is &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;crushed&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or distorted to overcome and absorb irregularities in the end of the spout, it forms a primary obstruction to prevent leakage through the narrow spaces formed by the threaded segments that hold the aerator against the faucet spout. The body also provides additional spaces along its periphery to aspirate water that may be otherwise leaked out of the above-noted threaded portions of the structure and hence such water will be emitted from the downstream discharge end of the aerator, thereby avoiding leakage from the device.

.nited States Patent 1191 Parkison et a1.

[5 SUBSTA'NTIALLY LEAKLESS AERATOR [75] Inventors: Richard G. Parkison,Somerville;

Barry S. Fichter, Dunellen, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: American Standard Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 332,982

1111 3,827,636 1451 Aug. 6, 1974 G. Crooks [5 7] ABSTRACT Thisapplication covers an aerator for a faucet. The aerator includes fourprincipal parts: a disk or diaphragm having a plurality of apertures atits upstream end for converting incoming water into a plurality of jetsof water; a substantially cylindrical body having an upper shoulder tosupport the diaphragm and having Cl 239/553, 3 apertures to admit air tobe mixed with the water jets 285/328 produced by the diaphragm; and apair of spaced [51 Int. Cl. E03c l/08 screens of different dimensionsdownstream of the dia- Of Search phragm for additionally mixing. andemitting the air 285/328, 423 I and water combination. The incoming airand the 7 1 water jets developed by the diaphragm are combined [56]References Cited and mixed in the space or chamber above the two screensbefore being discharged through the discharge UNITED STATES PATENTSoutlet of the aerator. The diaphragm embodies a so- 1,190,5l1 7/1916Buscher 239/428.5 called crush ring positioned peripherally at its2,388,992 11/1945 Pape et a1. 285/328 X stream end The crush ringcontacts a flat ring near 3,104,827 9/1963 Aghnides.... 2319/4285 3 270965 9/1966 A hnides 239,428 5 the end of the faucet spout and, because1t 15 313211140 5/1967 Pfrkison @5111... WI: 239/42815 W- 1 4 ordistorted to 9 and abs9rb irreg- 3,388,868 6/1968 Watson et al 239/428.5x ularlttes the end Ofthe Spout, It forms a P y 3,531,051 9/1970 Classen239/428.5 tru on to pre ent leakage through the narrow 3,635,405 1/1972Shames et a1 239/428.5 spaces formed by the threaded segments that holdthe 3,642,213 2/1972 Parkison 239/553 X aerator against the faucetspout. The body also pro- 3,672,574 6/1972 Knapp 239/428.5 videadditional spaces along its periphery t0 aspirate 3,712,548 l/1973Aghmdes 239/428.5 water that may be Otherwise leaked out f the aboveFOREIGN AT N S ()R APPLI ATIONS noted threaded portions of the structureand hence 285 328 such water will be emitted from the downstream dis-224740 11/1924 Great Bmam charge end of the aerator, thereby avoidingleakage from the device.

20 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 2i |s I? s 17 i P 24 7 2 I 5 I 9 Q 2 i 1 Ie;- 6 1" 9 I L 3 I I3 i H AIR 4 l2 ll PATENTl-Illmr; 61914 g s.a27; 636

sum 1 or 4 I FIVG.I

PAIENTEB MIB 6 74 SHEET 2 0F 4 FIG.3

-! w nu n! l SUBSTANTIALLY LEAKLESS AERATOR This invention relates toaerators for spouts and faucets and, more particularly, to aeratorswhich are sturdy and simple in construction, easily assembled on a spoutor faucet, easily removed and disassembled for cleaning purposes,long-lasting, easily reassembled and connected to the faucet, and low incost.

As is well known, a conventional aerator is a device which is attachableto, or may be part of, a spout or faucet or other liquid dischargestructure for admitting air and combining the admitted air with theliquid to be discharged as a coherent air-liquid stream of improvedappearance. I

Presently available low-cost aerators are usually composed of anupstream diaphragm providing a plurality of apertures to receiveincoming water and convert the incoming water into a plurality of jetswhich are to be mixed with incoming air before the mixture is dischargedby the device. The mixing means is usually located downstream of thediaphragm, and it may include a so-called mixing plug or onion, with orwithout a screen positioned downstream of the mixing plug (see Goodrieet al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,010,659 issued Nov. 28, 1961), or, on the otherhand, the mixing means may include a pair of identical screens which arespaced from the jet-forming diaphragm and from each other near thedischarge end of the device (see Aghnides U.S. Pat. No. 2,210,846,issued Aug. 6, 1940, now expired). In the latter case, for example, airis drawn into the space between the diaphragm and the screens and thecombination or mixture of air and water is discharged from thedownstream end of the device. 7

Experience has demonstrated that, in a device employing a pair ofscreens transmitting a relatively high velocity air and water mixture,especially if the components of the device are all molded into a unitaryor onepiece structure (as disclosed in the Aghnides U.S. Pat. No.3,270,964, issued Sept. 6, I966), the screens may decay and deterioraterapidly due to the speed and force of the transmitted fluids, and due toforeign matter accumulated on the screens, and due to abrasions of thescreens by brushes and cleaning cloths and chemicals and polishesemployed for cleaning purposes. These decaying and deteriorating factorssoon render the aerator inefficient and perhaps useless or valueless. Ifthe aerator becomes inefficient or worthless, the faucet likewisebecomes inefticient and the user becomes annoyed and dissatisfied withthe faucet and its operation as well as with the sink or lavatorystructure of which the faucet is an important component. Such conditionshave created difficult or serious problems which demand appropriatesolutions.

Experience has also demonstrated that the conventional type of aeratorwhich is threaded into the discharge end of a faucet develops leaksespecially at the threaded segment, and this can be, and usually alsois, a source of considerable annoyance to the user as well as a wastageof valuable water. According to this invention, this type of leakagewill be greatly reduced, if not eliminated, by coordinated leakageprevention means.

Furthermore, the structure of the aerator device of would otherwise leakout of the device. This will cause any such water to be brought into themain stream of the device and discharged through the downstreamdischarge port of the device. Hence, the troublesome leakage factor willbe minimized or eliminated by the introduction and employment of thepresent invention.

Furthermore, the conventional aerator, especially the one-piece type,necessarily embodies a thin somewhat tender outer wall. Because of thethinness and tenderness of the wall structure, the heavy hand of aplumber or installer would often produce a crack in the outer wall ofthe aerator and this would ordinarily require the aerator to bereplaced. This wall weakness introduces an acute condition especiallywhen the plumber or installer employs a wrench as is customary in makingattachments to plumbing fittings. Any damage to the aerator due toinherent faults in the materials or the installation practices casts acloud about the installer and saddens the homeowner and, moreover, marsthe image of the manufacturer. These conditions will be minimized oreliminated by the construction of the device of the present invention.

These and other features and objects of this invention will be betterand more clearly understood from the more detailed description andexplanation hereinafter following when read in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical assemblage of a faucet bearing an aeratordevice of the type involved in this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a general assembly of the parts of the aerator ofthis invention shown in a cross-sectional view taken through the centralor longitudinal axis of the aerator device of this invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of the body or outer structure ofthe aerator of this invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the body or outer structuralcomponent of the aerator, this view being also taken along thelongitudinal axis of the device;

FIG. 5 shows a lower plan view of the body or outer structural componentof the device;

FIG. 6 shows a view of the diaphragm component of the aerator devicetaken in cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the device;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the diaphragm component shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom plan view of the diaphragm component of FIG.6;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view, taken along lines A-A of FIG. 1,showing the end of a faucet having an aerator attached thereto;

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c illustrate partial segments of a crush ring employedfor sealing an aerator to a faucet;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vandalproof aeratorassembly; and

FIG. 11 represents a partial segment of the diaphragm component toillustrate the structure for producing water turbulence in the practiceof this invention.

The same or similar reference characters will be employed throughout thedrawing to designate the same or similar parts wherever they may occurin the drawmg.

FIG. 1 illustrates the general assembly of a typical spout or faucet FThaving an aerator AR attached thereto.

Referring especially to FIG. 2 of the drawing, there are shown thegenerally cylindrical body 1, the circular diaphragm 2 transverselypositioned near the top of the body 1 and the two flat screensdesignated 3 and 4 transversely positioned at the lower end of body 1.All four parts are coordinated and assembled as shwon in FIG. 2, readyfor installation in a faucet FT (see FIG. 1). The upper outer peripheralsegment 5 of the body 1 is externally threaded so that the body 1 may bethreadedly attached to the corresponding internally threaded segment ofthe spout or faucet FT to which the aerator structure AR is to beattached.

The four parts 1-4 just described, when assembled, represent a cleanableaerator. The aerator can be readily installed and later removed forcleaning, reassembly and re-installation. As will be described, all ofthe several parts are firm and durable and easily cleanable and maintaina good appearance at all times.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the lower exterior part of the body 1has a plurality of substantially peripheral parallel recesses 6 moldedon the outer surface of the body 1. These exterior recesses 6 may beused by an installer to grip the device for the purpose of attaching thedevice to a spout or faucet FT or may be used by a homeowner forremoving the device from the spout or faucet FT for cleaning andreplacement. The connection to the spout or faucet may be performed byhand or by a tool such as a wrench or pliers. When the aerator device ARis affixed to a spout or faucet FT, the diaphragm 2 and the screens 3and 4 are easily arranged and held in place within the body 1 and remainfixed in position. On the other hand, when it is desired to clean theaerator structure to remove foreign matter that may have accumulated onthe upstream side of the diaphragm 2 or on the surfaces of the screens 3and 4, it is merely necessary to unscrew the threaded body 1 from thespout or faucet and then remove either the diaphragm 2, or the diaphragm2 and the screens 3 and 4, for cleansing or other purposes, after whichthe same parts may be reinserted and re-assembled and the structurereconnected to the threaded end of the spout or faucet.

It will be noted especially from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the body 1 has aplurality of peripheral parallel openings 9, ten openings beingexhibited in the illustration. These peripheral openings 9 allow air tobe drawn upwardly into the chamber 10 of the structure via the verticalpassages 11 for mixture with the water jets traversing diaphragm 2. Theincoming air arriving from the lower end passages 11 of the body 1 isdrawn through openings 9 into chamber 10 by reduced pressure or socalledsuction action produced by the water flowing downstream, i.e., in thedownward direction along the longitudinal axis, and the air is added toand mixed with the jets of water and the combination of water and air isexited thereafter through the discharge port of the aerator structure.

As seen in the drawing, especially in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the body 1has two peripheral internal substantially flat ledges, a lower edge, 12and an upper ledge 13. The screen 4 which is a finer-meshed screen andof smaller diameter than screen 3, is seated on the lower ledge 12. Theother screen 3, which is of coarser mesh and of larger diameter, isseated on the upper ledge 13 of the body 1. These screens 3 and 4 areemployed to cause the incoming water passing the chamer 10 and the airdrawn into the chamber 10 to be brought into finer and more intimatecontact with each other to establish a more uniform and laminar exitingdischarge stream. Screens 3 and 4 also serve to reduce the noise factorthat would be present in a rapidly flowing stream if the screens wereomitted. Furthermore, these screens and their meshes are sturdy inconstruction, built to withstand not only the pressurized high velocitystreams traversing the screens and the chemical compounds encountered inthe transmitted water, but they are also able to withstand fingerpressures that might be applied to them by plumbers, homeowners andother in cleaning or handling them.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, it will be noted that there are threeconcentric rows of over-hanging upward projections 15, 16 and 17. Eachprojection in each of the rows 15, 16 or 17 is positioned atop each ofthe three corresponding sets of concentric apertures 19, 20 and 21 (seeespecially FIGS. 2, 8, 9, 10 and 11). Each overhanging projection, suchas 17, and its corresponding aperture 21, will cause the incoming waterto be deflected at the upstream end of the aerator as the water isdirected downstream to the appropriate aperture in the disk 2 to form aturbulent water jet. Another overhanging projection 15 and itscorresponding aperture 19 are shown in FIG. 11, by way of anotherexample, and it can be observed that water destined to pass throughaperture 19 must be received via the upstream dual or lateral openingsprovided by the overhanging projection 15. Thus, each of the variousapertures 19, 20 and 21 in the diaphragm 2, not only produces a jet ofwater entering the chamber 10, but each produced jet of water is causedto become turbulent due to deflection by each overhanging projectionsuch as 15, 16 and 17. Turbulence is essential in the mixing of thewater with the incoming air to effect suction action, and the greaterthe turbulence, the more intimate the water-air mixture and the greaterthe volume of air drawn through the device.

The relation between each projection, such as 17 in the outer ring ofoverhanging projections, and the corresponding associated aperture, suchas 21, may be seen more clearly from FIG. 2. The aperture 21 is shownimmediately beneath the overhanging projection 17 so that water flowingdownstream from the spout or faucet will be allowed to enter via thesides of each projection 17 in a non-linear path as shown by the arrowsin FIG. 2. These non-linear flow paths introduce the necessary turbulentmotion to the water entering and traversing the aperture 21 and theturbulent jet stream is delivered to the chamber 10 for the mixingprocess. The production of a significant amount of turbulent jet motionincreases the ability of the incoming water to receive air and mix withthe received air entering chamber 10 from the downstream openings in thebody 1.

It will be noted from FIG. 8 that each of the numerous cylindricalapertures 19, 20 and 21 are shown to be approximately of squarecross-section. Although a substantially square cross-section may bepreferred, it will be apparent that any other cross-section, such ascircular or elliptical cross-sections, may be used in the cylindricalapertures if desired. If desired, the projections 17, 18 and 19 may beformed on the underside (rather than the upper side) of each cylindricalaperture. This on the underside of the diaphragm 2 in the moldingprocess for the diaphragm 2.

Hence, the chamber will receive not only a plurality of turbulent jetstreams of water developed by the numerous concentric projections l5, l6and 17 and their corresponding concentric apertures 19, 20 and 21 of thediaphragm 2, but also the incoming aspirated air entering the ports 11at the downstream end of the aerator and traveling through theperipheral openings 9 in the wall of the body 1. The incoming air willmeet and commingle with the water jet streams within the chamber 10, sothat the mixture of the water jets and accompanying air will be passedthrough the two spaced, tandem, progressively finer screens 3 and 4 toadvance and increase the mixing process and then the mixture is exitedfrom the downstream discharge port of the structure as a relativelysmooth laminar, coordinated stream.

The diaphragm 2 also includes a central or axial handle 28 (see FIG. 2)which may be grasped by the fingers of the user whenever the aerator ARis to be removed from a spout or faucet FT for cleaning or otherpurposes. By virtue of the handle 28, the diaphragm 2 may be easilylifted bodily off the ledge 22 at the upper end of the cylindricalaerator body 1 and cleaned or otherwise treated and then reseated on theledge 22 of the body 1 before being re-assembled and re-connected to thespout or faucet.

FIGS. 2, 6, 9 and 10 show a crush ring formation which is circular andis formed atop the diaphragm 2. The crush ring 25 is brought into veryintimate contact with the underside of the lower edge or internal flatring 24 which is part of the conventional spout or faucet FT to whichthe aerator is connected, as shown more clearly by FIG. 9. This crushring 25, when advanced upwardly and sealed against the flat ring 24,constitutes a significant barrier or dam which plugs the leakage ofwater over the rim formed by the crush ring 25 of the diaphragm 2. Theseal against leakage effected by ring 25 can be firmly established bythreadedly connecting the aerator AR to the faucet FT by a sufficientrotary, tight connection of the aerator against the faucet. This joinderof rings 24 and 25 is an important feature because it serves to confinethe pressurized water traveling downstream to the intended establishedpaths alongside of the groups of concentric projections such as 17.Without the barrier established by crush ring 25 and flat ring 24, watermight readily be leaked out of the aerator structure via the externalthreads 5 of the body 1 which are mated with the internal threads of thespout or faucet FT.

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c illustrate the various shapes of the crush ring 25as the aerator is tightened and pressed into or against flat ring 24.FIG. 9a shows the shape of the crush ring before the aerator istightened. FIG. 9b shows the shape of the crush ring when the aerator istightened normally against a well-formed flat ring 24. FIG. 9c shows theshape that the crush ring takes when the aerator is tightened morefirmly to overcome either large or substantial irregularities in themating surface of flat ring 24 or an askew condition between the threadsand the plane of the mating surface, or other unusual or extraordinaryconditions. The crush ring is preferably a thermo-plastic material andhas a crosssection that is relatively small so that, as the aerator istightened, it is capable of being deformed sufficiently to conform tothe shape of the underside of flat ring 24. Thus, the crush ring 25 willabsorb the irregularities in the flat ring 24 or any askew condition inthe flat ring 24, and establishes its excellent water seal.

The body 1, as seen from FIGS. 2 and 4 and as already explained, has aplurality of parallel peripheral openings 9 through which air is drawnby aspiration into the chamber 10. These same openings 9 are alsoemployed to develop suction so as to steer and divert into the body ofthe aerator any water which would pass over the barrier formed by crushring 25 and flat ring 24. Such water is caused to travel through thespaces 26 and 27 and thereafter through the discharge opening at thedownstream end of the aerator.

In accordance with this invention, as described, there are two importantcoordinated structures in this invention for the substantial reductionand probable elimination of water leakages from the aerator as are oftenencountered in practice. One of these is the circular crush ring 25 atthe upper or upstream end of the diaphragm 2 conforming to the shape ofthe flat plate 24 and providing a barrier against leakage, as shown, forexample, in FIG. 9, and the other is formed by the paths 26 and 27 andthe peripheral paths 9 at the lower end of the body 1. The crush ring 25and its adjacent flat ring 24 may be viewed, as already noted, as abarrier wall or dam formed under positive pressure, while the openings 9are regarded as aspirators or negative pressure sources acting to returnthe water into the proper path within the aerator. The crush ring 25 mayhave, for example, a width of about 0.006 inches and a longitudinalheight of 0.008 inches. Any water that might flow over the rim of thecrush ring 25 and then leak through the slots 26 in the diaphragm 2 andthrough the gaps 26 and 27 between diaphragm 2 and the internal wall ofbody 1 may be passed and leaked through the apertures 9, but theaspirated air flowing upstream through apertures 9 and under sufficientnegative pressure will actually draw the water into the mainstream ofthe device to be properly discharged thereby. These mechanical andhydraulic structures eliminate a significant leakage problem.

The screens 3 and 4 are, as already noted, of different degrees offineness and are employed for ruggedness and added strength. The upperscreen 3, for example, may be made of stainless steel formed as annealedwire cloth, the wire of which has a diameter of 0014-1200003 inches andproviding 24 by 24 meshes per square inch. The lower screen for example,may

also be made of stainless steel formed as annealed wire having adiameter of 00085100003 inches and providing 40 by 40 meshes per squareinch.

Additionally, the lower screen 4, because of its finer meshes,introduces more intimate mixing of the air and water components.Furthermore, the upper screen 3 serves to reinforce and support the wallof body 1 and significantly strengthen the body 1 and hence reducesubstantially, if not eliminate, possible breakages in body 1.

The internal diameter of the body 1 at the parallel inner wall at itsupstream end may be, for example, about 0.815 inches. The internaldiameter at the exit port of the body may be about 0.7l5 inches. Themaximum exterior diameter which is the diameter at the base of the body1 may be about 0.98 inches. The vertical or longitudinal length of theaerator, including the assembled disk 2 and its crush ring 25, butexcluding the handle 21, is slightly over /2 inch. These smalldimensions obviously reduce the amount of material required tomanufacture the aerator and lower its cost while maintaining sturdinessand long lasting service qualities.

The diaphragm 2 may be molded of polyethylene. The body 1 may be moldedof ABS material and may be metal-plated on its exterior surface. Anygood alternative materials may be used in forming these components.

FIG. illustrates the above-described cleanable aerator modified toembody structure to render the aerator substantially vandal-proof. Thismodification includes a cylindrical element 30 which is slightly spacedfrom, but is wrapped around, the outer cylindrical surface of the bodycomponent 1. The cylindrical element 30 has an inturned lower roundedsegment 31, preferably of the same thickness as the element 30, and athinner upper segment 32 which can be inturned or bent toward thesloping shoulder 29 of the body 1. When arranged as shown in FIG. 10 toprovide a very limited gap between the outer periphery of the body 1 andthe inner wall of the cylindrical element 30 and its segments 31 and 32,the cylindrical element 30 will be freely rotatable about the body 1.However, the outer cylindrical element 30 will be retained by the body 1throughout any rotation of the aerator by a vandal who seeks to abscondwith the aerator and the aerator will not be removable from the faucetFT (except by the use of extraordinary force or by special tools whichare not usually available to the public). This modified construction isespecially useful for the protection of the aerator in publicinstallations; it is not required for use in homes.

Although two screens designated 3 and 4 have been shown and describedfor illustrative purposes, it will be clearly understood that any numberof screens may be employed near the discharge port of the aerator but,according to this invention, the screens should be graded so that thecoarsest screen will be at the most upstream position and the finestscreen at the most donwstream position. One screen, if used alone, willnot be as effective in providing a mixing mechanism as will be aplurality of screens. Furthermore, the noise factor, introduced by afast-moving stream of water, is significantly reduced by the addition oftwo or more spaced screens.

It will also be understood that, according to this invention, anyaerator may be rendered substantially leakless by embodying the twofeatures hereinabove referred to, one of which includes a transverseapertured diaphragm having a peripheral lip on its upstream faceextending throughout the rim of the diaphragm and contacting aprotruding ledge or plate peripherally arranged within the faucet orconduit to which the areator is connected and making firm contact withthe lip member, and a low pressure air space developed within a chamberfor drawing any water that would otherwise leak past the dam-likeobstruction provided by the lip segment and the contacting peripheralplate. Thus, there are two tandemly related structures for minimizing oreliminating leakage according to this invention.

While this invention has been shown and described in certain particularembodiments merely for illustration and explanation, it will beunderstood that the invention may have other forms as may be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A substantially leakless aerator for a water conduit comprising abody member joined by threads to said conduit, an apertured diaphragmsupported transversely by said body member at the upstream end of thebody member and having an upstream lip segment formed as a projectionsubstantially normal to the entire peripheral surface of said diaphragm,said conduit having an inner peripheral wall member to continuouslyengage the upper peripheral surface of said lip segment to form asubstantially continuous barrier against leakage of water through saidthreads joining the body member to the conduit, the apertures of saiddiaphragm forming separate and distinct substantially parallel streamsexiting from said diaphragm, said body member having openings forintroducing air into the body member to be mixed with the streams ofwater traversing the apertures of the diaphragm, and a plurality ofspaced screens supported near the downstream end of the body member andthrough which the mixture of air and water is transmitted and thendischarged from said body member, the openings in said body member beingsubstantially parallel to each other and extending from the downstreamend of the body member to the space between the diaphragm and saidscreens, said diaphragm having peripheral slots therein for divertingwater leaking past the lip segment into the mainstream of the bodymember at reduced pressure.

2. A substantially leakless aerator according to claim 1 in which thespaced screens have meshes of different sizes, the screen of the largestmeshes being positioned upstream and the screen of the smallest meshesbeing positioned downstream.

3. The combination of a faucet having a discharge port, a flat ringmounted and held within said discharge port of the faucet for providinga peripheral projection within said discharge port, a cylindricalaerator body threadedly connected to said discharge port, a perforateddiaphragm positioned at the upstream end of the aerator body and heldperpendicular to the axis of the aerator body for converting waterreceived by the faucet into a pluraltiy of parallel independent anddistinct jets of water discharged by its apertures and having aperipheral upstream lip substantially normal to and adjacent the outerrim of the diaphragm for contacting the projection within the dischargeport of the faucet when the aerator body is connected to the faucet, theareator body having a plurality of peripheral openings adjacent thedownstream end of the aerator body for receiving air to be mixed withthe jets of water traversing the apertures of the diaphragm, theperipheral lip of the diaphragm, when contacting said projection, actingas a barrier to prevent leakage of water through the threads couplingthe aerator body to the faucet, the diaphragm also having, in additionto its apertures, a plurality of peripheral slots therein for diverting,under reduced pressure, water leaking past said lip into the mainstreamof the aerator body to prevent leakage of said diverted water.

4, The combination of claim 3, including two flat screens spaced fromeach other and mounted within the aerator body, both screensadditionally mixing the air and jets of water to form a laminar stream,the upstream screen mechanically reinforcing the wall of the aeratorbody.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the two screens are meshed bystainless steel wire, the mesh of the downstream screen being finer thanthe mesh of the upstream screen.

6. An aerator comprising a substantially cylindrical body memberthreadedly connectable to a conduit having an internal peripheralprojection and supplying pressurized water and having a plurality ofsubstantially parallel openings in the wall of the body member forreceiving air entering from the downstream end of the body member adiaphragm having a plurality of separate, independent concentricapertures through which water received from said conduit is convertedinto relatively high velocity distinctive substantially parallelturbulent water jets, said body member having an upper circular rimthereon for supporting said diaphragm, said diaphragm also having acontinuous peripheral ring substantially normal to its upstream end andheld against the internal peripheral projection of said conduit so as toprovide a barrier against leakage of water from the body member, saiddiaphragm also having, in addition to its apertures, a plurality ofperipheral slots for diverting into the mainstream of said body memberthe water that would otherwise leak past the peripheral ring of thediaphragm to prevent the leakage of the diverted water, and a pair ofcircular screens spaced from and parallel to each other and held onseparate corresponding ledges of the body member near the downstream endof the body member, said screens transmitting, as a laminar aeratedmainstream, a mixture of the water of the jets traversing the aperturesof the diaphragm and the air received from the openings at thedownstream end of the boyd member and the water diverted through theperipheral slots of the diaphragm.

7. An aerator according to claim 6 in which the diaphragm includes aplurality of projections adjacent its apertures so as to turbulate thewater flowing downstream through said apertures as parallel jets.

8. A substantially leakless aerator for a water conduit comprising abody member joined by threads to said conduit, an apertured diaphragmsupported transversely by said body member at the upstream end of thebody member and having an upstream lip segment formed as a projectionsubstantially normal to the entire peripheral surface of said diaphragm,said conduit having an inner peripheral wall member to continuouslyengage the upper peripheral surface of said lip segment to form asubstantially continuous barrier against leakage of water through saidthreads joining the body member to the conduit, the apertures of saiddiaphragm forming separate and distinct substantially parallel streamsexiting from said diaphragm, said body member having openings forintroducing air into the body member to be mixed with the streams ofwater traversing the apertures of the diaphragm, and a plurality ofspaced screens supported near the downstream end of the body member andthrough which the mixture of air and water is transmitted and thendischarged from said body member, the spaced screens having meshes ofdifferent sizes, the screen of the largest meshes being positionedupstream and the screen of the smallest meshes being positioneddownstream, the openings in the body member being peripherally arrangedto be substantially parallel to each other and to extend from thedownstream end of the body member to the space between the diaphragm andthe upstream screen, and spaces being provided between the rim of thediaphragm and the body member so that said openings and said spacestogether divert into the mainstream of the body member any water thatleaks past the lip segment.

9. A substantially leakless aerator according to claim 8, including askirt member surrounding and spaced slightly from the body member torender the areator vandal-proof.

10. The combination of a faucet having a discharge port, a flat ringmounted and held within said discharge port of the faucet for providinga peripheral projection within said discharge port, a cylindricalaerator body threadedly connected to said discharge port, a perforateddiaphragm positioned at the upstream end of the aerator body and heldperpendicular to the axis of the aerator body for converting waterreceived by the faucet into a plurality of parallel independent anddistinct jets of water discharged by its apertures and having aperipheral upstream lip substantially normal to and adjacent the outerrim of the diaphragm for contacting the projection within the dischargeport of the faucet when the aerator body is connected to the faucet, the

' aerator body having a plurality of peripheral openings adjacent thedownstream end of the aerator body for receiving air to be mixed withthe jets of water traversing the apertures of the diaphragm, theperipheral lip of the diaphragm, when contacting said projection, actingas a barrier to prevent leakage of water through the threads couplingthe aerator body to the faucet, two flat screens spaced from each otherand mounted within the aerator body, both screens additionally mixingthe air and jets of water to form a laminar stream, the upstream screenmechanically reinforcing the wall of the aerator body, the two screensbeing meshed by stainless steel wire, the mesh of the downstream screenbeing finer than the mesh of the upstream screen, and means forrendering the aerator vandal-proof, said means including a shell spacedfrom the aerator body and encircling the aerator body so that anyrotation of the shell will not connect the aerator body to or disconnectit from the conduit.

11. An aerator comprising a substantially cylindrical body memberthreadedly connectable to a conduit having an internal peripheralprojection and supplying pressurized water and having a plurality ofsubstantially parallel openings in the wall of the body member forreceiving air entering from the downstream end of the body member, adiaphragm having a plurality of separate, independent concentricapertures through which water received from said conduit is convertedinto relatively high velocity distinctive substantially parallelturbulent water jets, said body member having an upper circular rimthereon for supporting said diaphragm, said diaphragm also having acontinuous peripheral ring substantially normal to its upstream end andheld against the internal peripheral projection of said conduit so as toprovide a barrier against leakage of water from the body member, and apair of circular screens spaced from and parallel to each other and heldon separate corresponding ledges of the body member near the downstreamend of the body member, said screens transmitting, as a laminar aeratedstream, a mixture of the water of the jets traversing the apertures ofthe diaphragm and the air received from the openings at the downstreamend of the body member, the diaphragm including a plurality ofprojections adjacent its apertures so as to turbulate the water flowingdownstream through said apertures as parallel jets, and an envelopingshell positioned externally about the body member and spaced from, butretained by, the body member and rotatable about the body member withoutconnecting the aerator to or disconnecting the aerator from the conduit.

12. An aerator according to claim 11 in which the screens are meshed bystainless steel annealed wire cloth, the upstream screen having 24 X 24meshes and the downstream screen having 40 X 40 meshes (per squareinch).

13. A substantially leakless aerator for a water conduit comprising abody member, engaging threads on the conduit and the body member forconnecting the body member to the conduit, a diaphragm supported at itsperiphery at the upstream end of the body member, said diaphragm havinga plurality of distinct disconnected apertures through which incomingwater is converted into substantially parallel turbulent jets, saiddiaphragm having a lip segment formed as a substantially normalprojection extending along and throughout the upper surface of saiddiaphragm, the conduit having an internal wall segment to engage theupper end of the lip segment throughout the periphery of the lip segmentto form a substantially continuous barrier against leakage of waterthrough said threads, said body member having openings extending fromthe downstream end of said body member to an intermediate region of thebody member so as to receive air to be mixed with the water jetstraversing the diaphragm and for producing a reduced air pressure withinthe body member to aspirate water which leaks past the lip segment andto direct the leaked water downstream so that the leaked water may bediverted into the mainstream of the body member, and screen means fordischarging the water from the downstream end of the body member.

14. A substantially leakless aerator for a water conduit according toclaim 13, in which the screen means includes a first screen positionedon a ledge of the body member adjacent the upstream ends of the openingsin the body member for reinforcing the wall of the body member, and asecond screen of a mesh which is finer than the mesh of the first screenand which is positioned on a ledge downstream of the ledge supportingthe first screen.

, 15. A substantially leakless aerator according to claim 14 in whichthe first and second screens are meshed by stainless steel wires.

16. A substantially leakless aerator according to claim 15, including ashell positioned about the body member and spaced therefrom so as to befreely movable about the body member without disengaging the body memberform the conduit.

17. A substantially leakless aerator comprising a substantiallycylindrical body member having two peripheral circular ledges spacedfrom each other near the downstream end thereof, two screens havingmeshes of different fineness, the coarser screen being supported by theupstream ledge and the finer screen by the downstream ledge, the bodymember having a plurality of substantially peripheral parallel airopenings each of which extends from the downstream end of the bodymember and reaches above the upstream screen, and a circular diaphragmseated along the upstream end of the body member so as to provide amixing chamber between its downstream end and the upstream screen, saiddiaphragm having a plurality of distinct nonconnected apertures andassociated barriers for converting received pressurized water into aplurality of substantially parallel turbulent jet streams emitted bysaid apertures, the diaphragm also having a peripheral ring formed onits upstream end as a barrier substantially normal thereto for providinga dam-like obstruction for blocking the leakage of water via a pathbetween the peripheral ring on the diaphragm and any openings in thebody member, air being aspirated upwardly through the parallel openingsin the body member into the chamber to mix with the parallel jets ofwater traversing the diaphragm, the aspirated air reducing the pressurewithin the chamber for drawing water that would leak past the peripheralring on the diaphragm into the chamber so that the drawn water will bedischarged through the screens and then through the discharge port ofthe aerator.

18. A substantially leakless aerator according to claim 17, in which thescreens are meshed by stainless steel annealed wire cloth and havedifferent sized meshes.

19. An aerator for a faucet, comprising external threads on the aeratorto mesh with internal threads within the faucet, a diaphragm positionedlaterally at the upstream end of the aerator and having apertures forconverting water received by the aerator from the faucet into aplurality of turbulent jets, a pair of spaced screens positionedlaterally across the aerator and located near the downstream end of theaerator, a plurality of substantially equal and parallel openings withinthe aerator extending from the downstream end of the aerator topositions between the diaphragm and the upstream screen for receivingair to be mixed with the jets of water, means for preventing leakagecomprising a peripheral lip extending along the entire upstream surfaceof the diaphragm, and a flat peripheral ring positioned along theinternal wall of the faucet for contacting the lip along the diaphragmthroughout its peripheral length, the openings in the aerator beingproportioned to establish a reduced pressure within the aerator foraspirating any water passing the lip on the diaphragm, such water beingdrawn under the influence of the reduced air pressure into themainstream of the aerator to be discharged through the downstreamdischarge port of the aerator.

20. An aerator to be threadedly connected to the inner wall of a faucet,comprising a first leakage protection means, said first means includinga peripheral ring mounted within the faucet upstream of the threadswithin the faucet to which the aerator is to be connected, a diaphragmmounted transversely across the upper periphery of the aerator, aperipheral lip mounted as a cylinder normal to the upstream side of thediaphragm and in contact with the peripheral ring in the faucet to blockleakage through the threads connecting the aerator to the faucet, and asecond leakage protection means, said second means including a plu- 14ring within the faucet and the lip on the diaphragm so that such waterwill not be leaked out of the aerator but will be drawn into themainstream of the aerator.

1. A substantially leakless aerator for a water conduit comprising abody member joined by threads to said conduit, an apertured diaphragmsupported transversely by said body member at the upstream end of thebody member and having an upstream lip segment formed as a projectionsubstantially normal to the entire peripheral surface of said diaphragm,said conduit having an inner peripheral wall member to continuouslyengage the upper peripheral surface of said lip segment to form asubstantially continuous barrier against leakage of water through saidthreads joining the body member to the conduit, the apertures of saiddiaphragm forming separate and distinct substantially parallel streamsexiting from said diaphragm, said body member having openings forintroducing air into the body member to be mixed with the streams ofwater traversing the apertures of the diaphragm, and a plurality ofspaced screens supported near the downstream end of the body member andthrough which the mixture of air and water Is transmitted and thendischarged from said body member, the openings in said body member beingsubstantially parallel to each other and extending from the downstreamend of the body member to the space between the diaphragm and saidscreens, said diaphragm having peripheral slots therein for divertingwater leaking past the lip segment into the mainstream of the bodymember at reduced pressure.
 2. A substantially leakless aeratoraccording to claim 1 in which the spaced screens have meshes ofdifferent sizes, the screen of the largest meshes being positionedupstream and the screen of the smallest meshes being positioneddownstream.
 3. The combination of a faucet having a discharge port, aflat ring mounted and held within said discharge port of the faucet forproviding a peripheral projection within said discharge port, acylindrical aerator body threadedly connected to said discharge port, aperforated diaphragm positioned at the upstream end of the aerator bodyand held perpendicular to the axis of the aerator body for convertingwater received by the faucet into a pluraltiy of parallel independentand distinct jets of water discharged by its apertures and having aperipheral upstream lip substantially normal to and adjacent the outerrim of the diaphragm for contacting the projection within the dischargeport of the faucet when the aerator body is connected to the faucet, theareator body having a plurality of peripheral openings adjacent thedownstream end of the aerator body for receiving air to be mixed withthe jets of water traversing the apertures of the diaphragm, theperipheral lip of the diaphragm, when contacting said projection, actingas a barrier to prevent leakage of water through the threads couplingthe aerator body to the faucet, the diaphragm also having, in additionto its apertures, a plurality of peripheral slots therein for diverting,under reduced pressure, water leaking past said lip into the mainstreamof the aerator body to prevent leakage of said diverted water.
 4. Thecombination of claim 3, including two flat screens spaced from eachother and mounted within the aerator body, both screens additionallymixing the air and jets of water to form a laminar stream, the upstreamscreen mechanically reinforcing the wall of the aerator body.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 in which the two screens are meshed by stainlesssteel wire, the mesh of the downstream screen being finer than the meshof the upstream screen.
 6. An aerator comprising a substantiallycylindrical body member threadedly connectable to a conduit having aninternal peripheral projection and supplying pressurized water andhaving a plurality of substantially parallel openings in the wall of thebody member for receiving air entering from the downstream end of thebody member a diaphragm having a plurality of separate, independentconcentric apertures through which water received from said conduit isconverted into relatively high velocity distinctive substantiallyparallel turbulent water jets, said body member having an upper circularrim thereon for supporting said diaphragm, said diaphragm also having acontinuous peripheral ring substantially normal to its upstream end andheld against the internal peripheral projection of said conduit so as toprovide a barrier against leakage of water from the body member, saiddiaphragm also having, in addition to its apertures, a plurality ofperipheral slots for diverting into the mainstream of said body memberthe water that would otherwise leak past the peripheral ring of thediaphragm to prevent the leakage of the diverted water, and a pair ofcircular screens spaced from and parallel to each other and held onseparate corresponding ledges of the body member near the downstream endof the body member, said screens transmitting, as a laminar aeratedmainstream, a mixture of the water of the jets traversing the aperturesof the diaphragm and the air received from the openings at thedownstream end of the boyd member and the water divErted through theperipheral slots of the diaphragm.
 7. An aerator according to claim 6 inwhich the diaphragm includes a plurality of projections adjacent itsapertures so as to turbulate the water flowing downstream through saidapertures as parallel jets.
 8. A substantially leakless aerator for awater conduit comprising a body member joined by threads to saidconduit, an apertured diaphragm supported transversely by said bodymember at the upstream end of the body member and having an upstream lipsegment formed as a projection substantially normal to the entireperipheral surface of said diaphragm, said conduit having an innerperipheral wall member to continuously engage the upper peripheralsurface of said lip segment to form a substantially continuous barrieragainst leakage of water through said threads joining the body member tothe conduit, the apertures of said diaphragm forming separate anddistinct substantially parallel streams exiting from said diaphragm,said body member having openings for introducing air into the bodymember to be mixed with the streams of water traversing the apertures ofthe diaphragm, and a plurality of spaced screens supported near thedownstream end of the body member and through which the mixture of airand water is transmitted and then discharged from said body member, thespaced screens having meshes of different sizes, the screen of thelargest meshes being positioned upstream and the screen of the smallestmeshes being positioned downstream, the openings in the body memberbeing peripherally arranged to be substantially parallel to each otherand to extend from the downstream end of the body member to the spacebetween the diaphragm and the upstream screen, and spaces being providedbetween the rim of the diaphragm and the body member so that saidopenings and said spaces together divert into the mainstream of the bodymember any water that leaks past the lip segment.
 9. A substantiallyleakless aerator according to claim 8, including a skirt membersurrounding and spaced slightly from the body member to render theareator vandal-proof.
 10. The combination of a faucet having a dischargeport, a flat ring mounted and held within said discharge port of thefaucet for providing a peripheral projection within said discharge port,a cylindrical aerator body threadedly connected to said discharge port,a perforated diaphragm positioned at the upstream end of the aeratorbody and held perpendicular to the axis of the aerator body forconverting water received by the faucet into a plurality of parallelindependent and distinct jets of water discharged by its apertures andhaving a peripheral upstream lip substantially normal to and adjacentthe outer rim of the diaphragm for contacting the projection within thedischarge port of the faucet when the aerator body is connected to thefaucet, the aerator body having a plurality of peripheral openingsadjacent the downstream end of the aerator body for receiving air to bemixed with the jets of water traversing the apertures of the diaphragm,the peripheral lip of the diaphragm, when contacting said projection,acting as a barrier to prevent leakage of water through the threadscoupling the aerator body to the faucet, two flat screens spaced fromeach other and mounted within the aerator body, both screensadditionally mixing the air and jets of water to form a laminar stream,the upstream screen mechanically reinforcing the wall of the aeratorbody, the two screens being meshed by stainless steel wire, the mesh ofthe downstream screen being finer than the mesh of the upstream screen,and means for rendering the aerator vandal-proof, said means including ashell spaced from the aerator body and encircling the aerator body sothat any rotation of the shell will not connect the aerator body to ordisconnect it from the conduit.
 11. An aerator comprising asubstantially cylindrical body member threadedly connectable to aconduit having an internal peripheral projection and supplyIngpressurized water and having a plurality of substantially parallelopenings in the wall of the body member for receiving air entering fromthe downstream end of the body member, a diaphragm having a plurality ofseparate, independent concentric apertures through which water receivedfrom said conduit is converted into relatively high velocity distinctivesubstantially parallel turbulent water jets, said body member having anupper circular rim thereon for supporting said diaphragm, said diaphragmalso having a continuous peripheral ring substantially normal to itsupstream end and held against the internal peripheral projection of saidconduit so as to provide a barrier against leakage of water from thebody member, and a pair of circular screens spaced from and parallel toeach other and held on separate corresponding ledges of the body membernear the downstream end of the body member, said screens transmitting,as a laminar aerated stream, a mixture of the water of the jetstraversing the apertures of the diaphragm and the air received from theopenings at the downstream end of the body member, the diaphragmincluding a plurality of projections adjacent its apertures so as toturbulate the water flowing downstream through said apertures asparallel jets, and an enveloping shell positioned externally about thebody member and spaced from, but retained by, the body member androtatable about the body member without connecting the aerator to ordisconnecting the aerator from the conduit.
 12. An aerator according toclaim 11 in which the screens are meshed by stainless steel annealedwire cloth, the upstream screen having 24 X 24 meshes and the downstreamscreen having 40 X 40 meshes (per square inch).
 13. A substantiallyleakless aerator for a water conduit comprising a body member, engagingthreads on the conduit and the body member for connecting the bodymember to the conduit, a diaphragm supported at its periphery at theupstream end of the body member, said diaphragm having a plurality ofdistinct disconnected apertures through which incoming water isconverted into substantially parallel turbulent jets, said diaphragmhaving a lip segment formed as a substantially normal projectionextending along and throughout the upper surface of said diaphragm, theconduit having an internal wall segment to engage the upper end of thelip segment throughout the periphery of the lip segment to form asubstantially continuous barrier against leakage of water through saidthreads, said body member having openings extending from the downstreamend of said body member to an intermediate region of the body member soas to receive air to be mixed with the water jets traversing thediaphragm and for producing a reduced air pressure within the bodymember to aspirate water which leaks past the lip segment and to directthe leaked water downstream so that the leaked water may be divertedinto the mainstream of the body member, and screen means for dischargingthe water from the downstream end of the body member.
 14. Asubstantially leakless aerator for a water conduit according to claim13, in which the screen means includes a first screen positioned on aledge of the body member adjacent the upstream ends of the openings inthe body member for reinforcing the wall of the body member, and asecond screen of a mesh which is finer than the mesh of the first screenand which is positioned on a ledge downstream of the ledge supportingthe first screen.
 15. A substantially leakless aerator according toclaim 14 in which the first and second screens are meshed by stainlesssteel wires.
 16. A substantially leakless aerator according to claim 15,including a shell positioned about the body member and spaced therefromso as to be freely movable about the body member without disengaging thebody member form the conduit.
 17. A substantially leakless aeratorcomprising a substantially cylindrical body member having two peripheralcircular ledges spaced from each otheR near the downstream end thereof,two screens having meshes of different fineness, the coarser screenbeing supported by the upstream ledge and the finer screen by thedownstream ledge, the body member having a plurality of substantiallyperipheral parallel air openings each of which extends from thedownstream end of the body member and reaches above the upstream screen,and a circular diaphragm seated along the upstream end of the bodymember so as to provide a mixing chamber between its downstream end andthe upstream screen, said diaphragm having a plurality of distinctnon-connected apertures and associated barriers for converting receivedpressurized water into a plurality of substantially parallel turbulentjet streams emitted by said apertures, the diaphragm also having aperipheral ring formed on its upstream end as a barrier substantiallynormal thereto for providing a dam-like obstruction for blocking theleakage of water via a path between the peripheral ring on the diaphragmand any openings in the body member, air being aspirated upwardlythrough the parallel openings in the body member into the chamber to mixwith the parallel jets of water traversing the diaphragm, the aspiratedair reducing the pressure within the chamber for drawing water thatwould leak past the peripheral ring on the diaphragm into the chamber sothat the drawn water will be discharged through the screens and thenthrough the discharge port of the aerator.
 18. A substantially leaklessaerator according to claim 17, in which the screens are meshed bystainless steel annealed wire cloth and have different sized meshes. 19.An aerator for a faucet, comprising external threads on the aerator tomesh with internal threads within the faucet, a diaphragm positionedlaterally at the upstream end of the aerator and having apertures forconverting water received by the aerator from the faucet into aplurality of turbulent jets, a pair of spaced screens positionedlaterally across the aerator and located near the downstream end of theaerator, a plurality of substantially equal and parallel openings withinthe aerator extending from the downstream end of the aerator topositions between the diaphragm and the upstream screen for receivingair to be mixed with the jets of water, means for preventing leakagecomprising a peripheral lip extending along the entire upstream surfaceof the diaphragm, and a flat peripheral ring positioned along theinternal wall of the faucet for contacting the lip along the diaphragmthroughout its peripheral length, the openings in the aerator beingproportioned to establish a reduced pressure within the aerator foraspirating any water passing the lip on the diaphragm, such water beingdrawn under the influence of the reduced air pressure into themainstream of the aerator to be discharged through the downstreamdischarge port of the aerator.
 20. An aerator to be threadedly connectedto the inner wall of a faucet, comprising a first leakage protectionmeans, said first means including a peripheral ring mounted within thefaucet upstream of the threads within the faucet to which the aerator isto be connected, a diaphragm mounted transversely across the upperperiphery of the aerator, a peripheral lip mounted as a cylinder normalto the upstream side of the diaphragm and in contact with the peripheralring in the faucet to block leakage through the threads connecting theaerator to the faucet, and a second leakage protection means, saidsecond means including a plurality of openings in the wall of theaerator and peripherally arranged substantially parallel to each otheralong the downstream end of the aerator for receiving air, the receivedair producing a reduced pressure within the aerator so as to draw watertraversing the ring within the faucet and the lip on the diaphragm sothat such water will not be leaked out of the aerator but will be drawninto the mainstream of the aerator.